Multi-Location Test of Alternative Pheromone Trap Designs for Sugarcane Early Shoot Borer in South India

Abstract

As part of ongoing R&D towards improving the adoption of sex pheromone-based trapping of adults of sugarcane moth borers of importance in India, the present studies were taken up to test alternatives to the currently recommended water basin trap being reckoned as not so user-friendly. The results of a multi-location testing of variants of a waterless trap design (Delta Plus) as potential alternatives to water basin trap for attracting the male moths of the sugarcane early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus, are illustrated in this paper. The weekly moth catch in water basin trap was compared with two variants of the waterless (Delta Plus) traps for six successive weeks in four replications each at six locations (two research stations and four sugar factory fields) in South India which showed that the two waterless (Delta Plus) trap variants caught nearly fourfold more moths than the water basin trap. Further, the provision of additional access windows (two on either side) was found to enhance the moth catches significantly. Additional testing of Delta Plus with extended sticky arena size (in four locations) also showed the significant increase in moth catches in the larger arena. It is thereby concluded that the waterless trap design (Delta Plus) with access windows is much superior to the water basin traps, with greater moth capturing efficiency and being more user-friendly. The Delta Plus traps are therefore recommended for use in monitoring and/or mass trapping as a key component of integrated pest management for the sugarcane borers.